Murder hunt begins after attack signs found on body

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a body found on a Hamilton street was found to have marks consistent with an assault.

A post mortem examination in Auckland revealed that a cut above the man's eye, as well as other injuries, indicated he had been attacked.

Three days after being found dead in suspicious circumstances in the central city, the man, in his late 50s to early 60s, is still unidentified.

He was discovered in his slippers at 6am by a street sweeper in London St.

Detective Inspector Lance Burdett said most of the police's energy was going into identifying him.

"This person has a family who need to know what has happened to their loved one."

Mr Burdett said he was waiting for pathology results but he believed the body had been on the street for up to two hours. There was no indication yet that a weapon had been used.

The assailant had made little attempt to conceal the body, leaving it on the road.

Police have released photographs of his clothing in the hope that members of the public will recognise it, or remember sightings of the man early on Sunday morning. Some of the clothing was stained with blood.

The victim was European, with greying, medium-length hair, of medium build and was wearing a light blue jacket with dark trim, light tan trousers, a dark brown jersey and dark brown slippers.

Mr Burdett said it was unlikely the man was homeless.

"But we're keeping an open mind. He was reasonably well dressed, and in very good physical condition.

"It's not uncommon for someone to be wearing slippers if they're going out to get the paper."

Police had visited local homeless shelters to confirm the man was not known there.

Earlier reports of fights in the area have been dismissed after police checked all calls to police communications on Saturday night and Sunday morning.